Survey says -- local businesses see value in tax relief

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli (left) signed the "Stop the Trades Tax" pledge Friday at his North Bay constituency office as witnessed by North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce President Derek Shogren (centre) and Executive Director Patti Carr (right).


Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli
News Release

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An overwhelming majority of local business people believe personal income tax cuts should be a priority in Ontario according to recent survey, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said today.



In a recent survey in partnership with the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce, 77 per cent of respondents said personal income taxes should be the first taxes to be cut.



“This is valuable feedback as we asked Ontarians in our Paths to Prosperity white papers whether we should cut sales, income or corporate taxes to kickstart job creation and economic growth,” Fedeli said.



As well, 70 per cent said they believe a training tax credit would be valuable in helping them train their employees, while 73% don’t believe the arbitration system for public sector labour disputes is working. Sixty per cent believe time-of-use electricity pricing should be optional.



The survey also showed overwhelming support for government to be more transparent and to cut red tape, as 91 per cent believe government should be required to measure and report on regulatory requirements.



It’s also clear that there is a lack of understanding about the College of Trades.



“Despite its name, the College of Trades is not a school to train skilled workers. Rather, it’s a Liberal-created oversight body that has imposed a trades tax through a mandatory membership fee,” Fedeli said.



To raise awareness of this tax on skilled workers, Fedeli today signed the “Stop the Trades Tax” pledge at his North Bay constituency office.



“At a time when we have a shortage of skilled trades workers in Ontario, this government continues to throw up roadblocks to putting more of them to work,” Fedeli said, noting the government has refused to implement the Ontario PC plan to alter apprenticeship ratios, which could create 200,000 jobs in the province. “The current government has no plan to address our jobs and debt crisis. We do.”

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